Comments on: Athenians and Visigoths: Neil Postman’s Graduation Speech

By: Gabriel Colorado

Gabriel Colorado — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:08:14 +0000

I don’t know who Neil Postman was but he was so far from accurately portraying the Visigoths that I suspect it was all tongue in cheek. No informed, educated person could honestly write such an uninformed, superficial piece. I refer any reader casually interested in the subject to Roger Collins’ Visigothic Spain. A serious author could have used a better subject, like the Vikings (8th & 9th centuries) or early Anglo-Saxons (5th, 6th & 7th centuries). The Visigoths of course got stereotyped by 19th and early 20th century English writers and historians, so they are an easy target of ridicule for any ill-informed English or American writer.

By: James Enge

James Enge — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:45:10 +0000

Speaking as a classicist who has a fondness for medieval Germanic literature, I'd say the Postman piece is nearly worthless. Read Elder Edda or the Icelandic sagas and tell me those guys don't care about using the right word. The Beowulf-poet has more in common with Homer than most Athenians did.

By: Elise

Elise — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:45:37 +0000

What? Was this written in the 50s? Disclaimer not withstanding, it’s so error-ridden and cliche-laden I would be embarrased to have had it read at my graduation.

By: Pat James

Pat James — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:16:57 +0000

Which group are you in? Which group do you want to be in?

By: JonathanR.

JonathanR. — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:50:56 +0000

The Vandals would have been a better counterpoint, if only because they well and truly disappeared and the only thing we remember of them is the definition we’ve attached to their name.

From the Visigoths, we do get some literature, art and theater. We also get some humane politics. Just look at the history of Spain, whose people descended from the Visigoths. From Cervantes to de Vitoria, the Visigoths do have some descendants to commend them.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:59:56 +0000

Well, it is obvious that Neil Postman knows even less about history than he does about anything else, and that takes some doing for him.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:28:56 +0000

Pleasurable read and a good project, to write a graduation address for just such an occasion, to discern for one’s self, what one would hope to impart to others as they begin their lives in a distilled format.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:41:51 +0000

This is really great – thanks!